Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott unveils new international postage stampwith Richard Thomas of the American First Day Cover Society.

June 29, 200909-52Over 100 people gathered at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose, Wyoming on Sunday, June 28, to celebrate the unveiling of a new 98-cent international postage stamp featuring Grand Teton National Park. The stamp—part of the Scenic American Landscape series—displays a photograph taken at dawn from the Snake River Overlook by Bishop, California resident, Dennis Flaherty. The stamp’s image is reminiscent of the famous Teton view captured by Ansel Adams in his classic 1942 black and white photograph.

This is the first time that Grand Teton National Park as has been on a postage stamp specifically honoring the park. To celebrate this special recognition, Grand Teton National Park international postage stamps and commemorative cachet envelopes were offered for sale by Moose Postmaster, Penny Maldonado, and cancelled with a specially designed first day issue stamp for collection purposes.

Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott joined Gary Sims, senior operating manager of the Colorado/Wyoming Untied States Postal Service District, and Philatelist Richard Thomas of the American First Day Cover Society to mark the occasion and acknowledge the audience, many of whom had traveled from across the country just for the event. All three remained after the dedication to sign collectors’ programs and specially created cachet envelopes.

Postage stamps were first issued in the United States in 1847—a little over 100 years before Grand Teton National Park was enlarged to its present-day boundaries in 1950. Stamp collecting is now a varied and widely popular hobby around the world; it provides an inexpensive and fascinating way to explore cultures, places, and history. It is estimated that over 80% of the world’s children have dabbled in stamp collecting, and adults share the same passion. In fact, the American Philatelic Society boasts over 50,000 members from 110 countries worldwide. Many beginning collectors choose a favorite subject like art, history, sports, transportation, famous people or animals as the theme of their collection and the Grand Teton National Park international stamp offers a great way to start a new collection or enhance a current one.

Grand Teton National Park and the Grand Teton Music Festival have joined together to offer a second year of special programs, promoting the deep connection between nature and music. Created through a special partnership, the “Music in Nature” concert series runs from June 30 through July 25. The Grand Teton Music Festival’s resident String Quartet will perform 30-minute programs of music inspired by nature; a park ranger will host each performance. The concerts are free and open to the public.

The inaugural performance of the String Quartet from Rice University in Houston, Texas will take place at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center on Monday, June 29 at 12 noon. The String Quartet was established by the Grand Teton Music Festival as a way to usher in promising musicians to the festival orchestra that plays each summer at Walk Festival Hall in Teton Village. These musicians will delight listeners through their recitals, continuing a musical tradition inspired by the beauty of Grand Teton National Park and its majestic scenery.

“The ‘Music in Nature’ concerts create a unique, relaxing atmosphere that allows visitors to enjoy the picturesque Teton landscape in a truly personal and moving way,” said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott. “We are excited to partner with the Grand Teton Music Festival again this summer to bring a special musical experience to our visitors.”

June 25, 200909-50Grand Teton National Park, in partnership with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Wyoming Highway Patrol, conducted two days of full-level commercial vehicle safety inspections on June 23 and 24. A complete inspection evaluates both the driver and the commercial vehicle to ensure compliance with federal regulations that govern these vehicles. The inspections were unannounced and focused on commercial buses and trucks.

A safety inspection station was assembled in Colter Bay Village, and every commercial vehicle traveling on Highway 89/287 through the park was diverted through the inspection station by Grand Teton National Park rangers. Vehicles inspected included passenger vans operated by local hotels for touring guests, commercial passenger buses, delivery vehicles, construction vehicles, and commercial vehicles carrying hazardous materials (a propane truck and a double trailer hauling gasoline). A total of 45 commercial vehicles and drivers were checked. Inspections focused on safety issues that could lead to motor vehicle accidents, injuries to passengers and others, and/or resource damage to the park.

The inspections resulted in nine “out-of-service” violations, requiring the vehicles to be parked until identified safety issues were resolved. Three construction side-loading dump trucks were parked for mechanical failures, two vehicles (a beverage delivery truck and a 40-passenger bus) were parked for brake failure, one propane truck was parked due to an unsecured load, and a delivery truck with an underage driver was suspended from service until the driver could be replaced. Additionally, nine operators received citations for equipment or driver violations.

This is the second year in a row that Grand Teton has hosted a commercial vehicle safety inspection operation. A similar operation may be scheduled for later in the summer. Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott said, “We are committed to ensuring the safety of all who travel park roads and these coordinated unannounced inspection stations are instrumental in identifying and addressing safety violations that pose a serious threat to the safety of park visitors and local residents.”

09-49Grand Teton National Park has scheduled a variety of activities and learning experiences throughout the summer months to inspire children and encourage them to become partners in helping to preserve not only Grand Teton, but all of America’s national parks. As the National Park Service’s signature initiative for young visitors, the Junior Ranger program provides children with age-appropriate, park-related activities that they can do at their own pace. The official Junior Ranger slogan, “Explore, Learn, Protect: Be a Junior Ranger,” captures the essence of a program designed to educate children about nature, wildlife and our nation’s history.

There are three ways to become a Junior Ranger in Grand Teton. The first option is for children to fill out the fun activities in “The Grand Adventure” newspaper and attend two programs, one of which must be ranger-led. The second option is for children ages 8-12 to attend a more hands-on program hosted at each of the park’s visitor centers. The third option is to explore the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve with a nature explorer’s backpack. Once participants have completed the required activities, they will be sworn in as official Junior Rangers and presented with a badge or patch (a donation of $1 is requested for these items). Reservations are required and can be made at any park visitor center.

Laurance S. Rockefeller (LSR) Preserve:Offered everyday, June 22 – September 27, 20098 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the LSR Preserve CenterChildren learn the art of journaling while discovering the wonders of the natural world using a nature explorer’s backpack. After a brief orientation by a ranger, each child receives their own nature journal and set of activities to take with them as they explore the LSR Preserve trails. Backpacks may be checked out during the hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. This program is recommended for children ages 6-12. Backpacks are limited, one per family. A similar program is available at the Jackson Hole and Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center at 532 North Cache in Jackson. Please call 734.9378 for further information.

June 23, 200909-48Motorists traveling Highway 26/89/191 in Grand Teton National Park will encounter road construction and delays during the next several weeks. Crack sealing will occur the week of June 22 on the highway between Gros Ventre Junction and the park’s south boundary, just north of the Jackson National Fish Hatchery. Motorists should expect delays up to 15 minutes for this project. Road striping will be underway through July 2, with minor delays expected. The Signal Mountain Summit Road will be closed Mondays through Thursdays, from June 29 through July 9 for an asphalt overlay project. The road will still be open Friday through Sunday during this time.

Reconstruction of the North Park Road in Grand Teton & Rockefeller Parkway, between Lizard Creek campground and Flagg Ranch Resort, is progressing. Work is being done to widen and repave the park road and complete the reconstruction of the Snake River Bridge just south of Yellowstone National Park. Motorists are advised to expect day and night travel delays of up to 30 minutes from now through the end of November. There are no night closures planned for the remainder of the season on the North Park Road.

Other road construction projects are planned for upcoming months, and each will involve 15-minute delays in traffic. These projects include: Asphalt overlays on the road from Colter Bay to Leeks Marina and on the road to the Teton Science Schools’ Kelly Campus during July. Bridge maintenance is also underway throughout the park and intermittent 15 minute delays should be expected at some park bridges.

Motorists traveling Highway 26/89/191 between the park’s south boundary and Cunningham Cabin should expect delays up to 30 minutes beginning August 24 to early September for completion of a chip seal project.

As always, roadwork schedules may change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead, and schedule extra time for their travel through Grand Teton during the next several months. As road improvement work is underway, efforts will be made to minimize inconvenience to drivers using park roads; however, traffic will be held up for short periods of time. These road construction projects are necessary for visitor safety, and maintenance of visitor facilities, for the many vehicles that use park roads each year.

For current road construction information, travelers are advised to call the park’s information hotline at 307.739.3614. The park’s newspaper, Teewinot, includes a road construction map for further reference and can be found online at www.nps.gov/grte, or picked up at any entrance station or visitor center.

June 22, 200909-47Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott wishes to invite the public to a special event to mark the first day of issue and the unveiling of a new 98-cent international postage stamp that pays tribute to Grand Teton National Park. This new stamp is part of the Scenic American Landscape series. The stamp unveiling event will take place at3 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, in the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center at Moose, Wyoming.

This is the first time that Grand Teton National Park has been honored by being chosen to grace a postage stamp specifically highlighting the park. To help celebrate this special recognition, Grand Teton National Park International Postage Stamps and commemorative cachet envelopes will be offered for purchase. Moose Postmaster, Penny Maldonado, will also be available to cancel first day issue stamps for collection purposes.

Garry Sims, senior operating manager of the Colorado/Wyoming United States Postal Service District, will attend the special event. In addition, Philatelist Chris Lazaroff of Elkton, Maryland, president of the American First Day Cover Society and a specialist in stamp collecting, will be on hand to discuss the significance of the Grand Teton National Park International Stamp in the context of the art of stamp collecting. The stamp itself displays a photograph taken at dawn from the Snake River Overlook by Bishop, California resident, Dennis Flaherty; it exhibits an awe-inspiring view of the Teton Range that was captured by Ansel Adams in his classic 1942 black and white photograph.

Postage stamps were first issued in the United States in 1847—a little over 100 years before Grand Teton National Park was enlarged to its present-day boundaries in 1950. Stamp collecting is now a varied and widely popular hobby around the world; it provides an inexpensive and fascinating way to explore cultures, places, and history. It is estimated that over 80% of the world’s children have dabbled in stamp collecting, and adults share the same passion. In fact, the American Philatelic Society boasts over 50,000 members from 110 countries worldwide. Many beginning collectors choose a favorite subject like art, history, sports, transportation, famous people or animals as the theme of their collection and the Grand Teton National Park International Stamp unveiling offers a great way to start a new collection or enhance a current collection.

June 22, 200909-46Teton interagency firefighters responded to a lightning-caused fire in Grand Teton National Park on Saturday evening, June 20. The Snake Fire was ignited about one mile north of the Teton Point Turnout on Highway 26/89/191 during the passage of an active thunderstorm. The fire is currently a quarter-acre in size, and Teton interagency firefighters are managing the fire for resource benefit.

The first fire of the season in Grand Teton started Wednesday,June 17. The Granite Bridge Fire was ignited by an illegal cooking fire on the Granite Canyon Trail, 1.3 miles from the trailhead. The party who reported the fire also knocked down the main flames. Interagency firefighters from the Moose-based engine 3 hiked in and extinguished it.

"With the rain we’ve had this month, it was surprisingly dry under the trees. The duff burned deeper and hotter than we would have expected,” said Lisa Elenz, fire management officer for Grand Teton National Park. “People need to be aware that fires are not permitted in the park’s backcountry; they are only allowed in certain lakeshore sites by special permit.”

The Bridger-Teton National Forest has also had two fires this season, both fires began on Sunday, June 7; the Sheep Fire in Curtis Canyon at Sheep Creek was a human-caused, debris-burning fire, and the George’s Canyon Fire was a single tree lightning-caused fire on Munger Mountain, south of Jackson. Both of the fires have been extinguished. In addition, campers have abandoned 19 campfires so far this season on National Forest Service land.

“People tend to be lulled into a false sense of security because of the wet weather and the green grass,” said Leslie Williams, fire prevention technician with the Bridger-Teton National Forest. “Campfires still need to be cool to the touch, fully extinguished with water and dirt, before leaving them. Should a campfire escape and start a wildfire, the responsible party can be held liable for suppression costs. Depending how large the fire is, that cost can be in the millions.”

June 22, 200909-45Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott announced today that a brief travel closure will be in effect on the unpaved section of the Moose-Wilson Road within Grand Teton National Park for about seven hours beginning at 5:30 a.m. on Friday, June 26. The temporary closure is scheduled to allow for grading work to be done on the unpaved roadbed. The Moose-Wilson Road will reopen by 1 p.m., barring inclement weather or equipment malfunction.

Road crews will complete the project in the shortest time possible; however, because this temporary closure prevents the ability to make a “through trip” on the Moose-Wilson Road, local residents and park visitors are advised to plan accordingly and use an alternate route. For those visitors wishing to reach the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve or the Death Canyon trailhead, access will be possible by driving south on the Moose-Wilson Road from the junction with the Teton Park Road at Moose, Wyoming.

To alert travelers of the expected daytime road closure, electronic signs will be in place on Wyoming Highway #390, beginning Wednesday, June 24. For motorists heading south to Teton Village, signs will also be placed at the junction of the Teton Park Road, near the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center.

The gravel surface of the Moose-Wilson Road between the Granite Canyon trailhead and the old JY Ranch gate, 1.5 miles north of the trailhead, becomes eroded during the summer months due to volume of vehicles that travel on it. Road grading will create a smoother surface and provide an added measure of safety for motorists using this roadway.

Roadwork schedules may change, or be delayed, due to weather conditions, equipment malfunction, or other extenuating circumstances.

June 21, 200909-44A collision between a motorcycle, with two riders aboard, and a pronghorn on Saturday afternoon, June 20, resulted in serious injuries to the passenger and minor injuries to the driver. The single vehicle collision occurred at 1:25 p.m. on Highway 26/89/191, two miles south of the Snake River Overlook in Grand Teton National Park. Brady Burgess, a 38-year-old resident of Garland, Utah and his passenger and wife, 46-year-old Koreen Burgess, were traveling southbound when the collision occurred.

Burgess, driving his 2005 Polaris Victory motorcycle, was leading a string of about seven motorcycles, when he entered the northbound lane, attempting to pass a motor home. As he started to clear the front of the RV, a pronghorn, heading eastward, began to race across the highway. While traveling at approximately 65 miles per hour, Burgess attempted to swerve left to avoid the animal. In response to the approaching vehicle, the pronghorn leapt into the air and impacted the right side of the motorcycle. The force of the impact knocked both riders off the motorcycle, causing the bike to tip over. The motorcycle continued to slide for approximately 100 feet down the highway. Neither Burgess nor his wife was wearing a helmet at the time.

Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received reports of the accident from several passers-by shortly after it occurred. Eleven park rangers and emergency medical personnel responded immediately to the scene. Emergency medical personnel from Teton County and an off duty Minnesota highway patrolman, who was first on the scene, also assisted with the incident. Two ambulances—one from Grand Teton and the other from Teton County—responded to the scene to transport the two injured people to St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson.

Due to the serious nature of the incident, and the multiple ambulances and emergency medical personnel required to treat the injured people, Highway 26/89/191 was closed to traffic for one hour from 1:40 p.m. to 2:40 p.m. Park rangers assisted with traffic control at Moran and Moose junctions and diverted vehicles through a detour along the Teton Park Road.

Grand Teton National Park rangers have concluded their investigation of the collision; however, this incident serves as an important reminder that wildlife are often wandering across, or lingering near, park roadways. Therefore, all motorists must be extra alert while driving and slow down for their own safety, as well as the welfare of park animals.

Motorists are reminded to drive the posted speed limit and be prepared to stop suddenly for wildlife on park roads. Driving slower than indicated speed limits—especially at night—can increase the margin of safety for people and animals alike. Collisions between motor vehicles and wildlife may result in severe damage to a vehicle, serious or fatal injuries to the occupants of that vehicle, and/or death for the animal involved.

June 19, 200909-43Teton interagency firefighters will team up with law enforcement next week to practice an additional component of their job. Through a Wildland Fire Origin and Cause course taught by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, interagency fire personnel will learn ways to determine how and where a fire started, while also conducting a prescribed fire.

Weather permitting, instructors will burn approximately five acres, broken out into 20 100-by-100 foot blocks near the power line two-track along Mormon Row Road. This area lies within the 300-acre Warm Springs Ditch project—a previous prescribed fire and weed treatment area. Each block will be ignited using a different method, and students will then investigate each block to determine the cause of the fire and the characteristics of its spread.

Students in the course will learn to identify the behavior of a wildland fire and the environmental factors that affect its start and spread; they will also learn to interpret burn patterns. In addition, the course covers elements of a fire scene such as: evidence identification, preservation, and collection; fire investigation methodology; witness interviews; ignition factors and sources; arson recognition; and preparation and testimony for the courtroom.

“This course is important because we need more qualified fire investigators in Teton Interagency Fire,” said Mack McFarland, interagency fuels specialist. “As we investigate human-caused fires, we need to be able to accurately determine the cause, and preserve evidence, so that we can pursue cost recovery for fire suppression activities.”

The Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination course runs from June 22-26. Instructors will burn the study blocks on whichever day has the favorable weather and conditions to sustain a prescribe fire.

June 15, 200909-42Grand Teton National Park will waive entrance fees during the weekends of June 20-21 (Fathers Day), July 18-19, and August 15-16, as part of a nation-wide initiative launched by Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on June 1st. In concert with the fee-free weekends, Grand Teton will offer educational programs that are designed to highlight special features of the park.

In an effort to encourage Americans seeking affordable vacations to visit their national parks, and explore the treasures that these unique places safeguard, Interior Secretary Salazar declared that national parks across the country will offer three separate fee-free weekends this summer. “National Parks serve as powerful economic engines for local communities,” said Secretary Salazar during a formal announcement about the new initiative at Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio. “We hope that promoting visitation will give a small shot in the arm to businesses in the area.”

During each of the upcoming fee-free weekends, Grand Teton park ranger naturalists will offer interpretative programs at various park locations— the Moose area, Jenny Lake, Colter Bay, and the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve. Visitors will be invited to learn about the park and its natural and cultural features by joining one of the regularly scheduled programs listed in the park’s newspaper, the Teewinot. These programs offer visitors the chance to: ponder the challenges of protecting public lands and natural resources during a “Conversation on Conservation” walk from the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center to the Murie Ranch; hear about mountain climbing in the Tetons in the Jenny Lake area; discover the role of geology and fire ecology by taking a “Fire and Ice” cruise from the Colter Bay marina; learn about American Indian culture during a tour of the David T. Vernon Indian Art Collection at the Colter Bay Visitor Center and Indian Arts Museum; or catch the “Explore the Preserve” hike at the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve to gain insight into the power of place.

In addition to regularly scheduled programs, the following special programs will also be available:“Experience nature through art” on Saturday, June 20. Sketch the natural world during a walk along Lake Creek on the Laurance S. Rockefeller (LSR) Preserve. Bring art supplies (sketching paper, pencil, and pen). Meet on the LSR Preserve Center veranda at10 a.m. Space is limited, so please call 739.3654 to reserve a spot.

“Celebrate International Year of Astronomy” on Saturday, June 20. Ranger Bob Hoyle will provide a program on Native American sky mythology and the use of the sky and its celestial bodies throughout human history. Large telescopes will be set up for participants to view stars, nebulas and other cosmic phenomena. Meet at the Signal Mountain Amphitheater at 9:30 p.m.

“Enjoy a Bird Walk” on Sunday, June 21. Take an early morning bird walk along the Snake River. Meet at the flagpole at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center at 7 a.m. Learn to “bird by ear” on a two-hour bird walk at the LSR Preserve at 8 a.m. Reservations are recommended; call 307.739.3654.

“Many Americans are facing tough economic times right now. Our hope is that these free-entry weekends will give some financial relief, while providing a memorable vacation experience,” said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott. “We encourage families to bring their children to Grand Teton, attend one of the ranger-led programs, and discover how rewarding and special a national park visit can truly be.”

For more about fee-free weekends in national parks, go to http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.

June 12, 200909-40This summer, Grand Teton National Park will join with the Jackson Hole Astronomy Club to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy. To mark this 2009 designation, Grand Teton and the local astronomy club will host several family-oriented programs, culminating with a special day of astronomy on August 16. The programs are designed to provide visitors and local residents with an opportunity to learn about star gazing, meteor showers, sunspots, star clusters, galaxies and much more.

The International Year of Astronomy proclaims to be modern astronomy’s quadricentennial, involving a world-wide celebration of numerous astronomical and scientific milestones. During 2009, events are planned to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s use of a telescope to study the skies, and Johannes Kepler’s publication of Astronomia Nova, among other notable achievements. Special programs offered at Grand Teton will provide opportunities for park visitors to gain a deeper insight into the role astronomy plays in the cultural history of people around the world.

Park Ranger Naturalist Bob Hoyle will give three evening programs focusing on American Indian mythology and the use of the sky and its celestial bodies in cultural history. Following each program—as a finale—large telescopes will be set up for participants to view stars, galaxies, nebulas and other cosmic phenomena. Anyone planning to attend the evening programs and telescope observation sessions should dress warmly as evening temperatures in Grand Teton can be quite chilly, even during summer. Solar-filtered telescopes will also be available to view sunspots during a daytime event at Colter Bay Visitor Center on August 16, and exhibit tables will be set up, providing fun and interesting information for children and adults.

To learn more about the International Year of Astronomy scheduled events, call the Colter Bay Visitor Center at 307.739.3594. For more information on the International Year of Astronomy or the International Astronomical Union, visit their Web site at http://www.astronomy2009.org/.

June 12, 200909-41Grand Teton National Park will hold its second annual John Colter Day on Monday, June 22, 2009 at the Colter Bay Visitor Center and Indian Arts Museum. Colter explored the greater Yellowstone area during the winter of 1807-08, and was likely the first white man to do so. To highlight this historical figure, Grand Teton will offer several programs during the second and third week of June. Colter Bay, on the northeast shore of Jackson Lake, is named in his honor.

Dr. Barbara Mueller, Professor of Anthropology at Casper College, will be the keynote speaker presenting “John Colter: Mountain Man Superhero,” at 3 p.m. on June 22 on the back deck of the Colter Bay Visitor Center. Additionally Mueller will provide museum tours of the David T. Vernon Indian Arts collection at the Colter Bay Visitor Center and Indian Arts Museum, Monday June 15 through FridayJune 19. Mueller’s tours will take the place of the regularly scheduled4 p.m. museum tours.

The Colter Stone will be on display at the Colter Bay Visitor Center from June 22-28. Park Ranger Naturalist Dan Greenblatt will present “The Story of the Colter Stone,” at 11 a.m. in the Colter Bay auditorium, detailing the legend and history of this fascinating artifact. The stone, which is on loan from the Teton Valley Historical Museum in Driggs, Idaho, is a piece of rhyolite lava rock carved in the shape of a human head. It is engraved on one side with the name “John Colter,” and on the other side is the year “1808.” Discovered in Tetonia, Idaho in 1933, the stone, if authentic, represents the only solid proof of the route followed by trapper and explorer John Colter. The Colter Stone remains a fascinating piece of the puzzle yet to fit into the mystery of John Colter’s pioneering sojourn through this region. For information on the Colter Stone, visit http://www.nps.gov/grte/historyculture/colterstone.htm.

Colter’s route through the Jackson Hole valley is uncertain, and no clear maps or records exist. A member of the famed Lewis and Clark expedition from 1804 to 1806, Colter was given an early discharge from the Corps of Discovery. He set out on his own from a fur trapping fort in present-day southern Montana and headed south to present-day Cody, Wyoming. On his return, he passed through what is now Yellowstone National Park. The middle section of his journey is a matter of speculation. One theory indicates he traveled via Togowtee Pass. The other commonly held view traces Colter’s route through Jackson Hole, over Teton Pass, and north along the west side of the Teton Range. No evidence exists to substantiate either route, and the only available sources of information are vague accounts and maps derived from interviews with Colter after his return.

For information about John Colter Day events, please call the Colter Bay Visitor Center at 307.739.3594.

June 10, 200909-39Firefighters and homeowners participated in the 11th annual All Fire Day training exercises on June 6 at Star Valley Ranch despite rainy weather. Firefighters from Teton, Sublette, Sweetwater and Lincoln counties, as well as Bridger-Teton National Forest, Grand Teton National Park, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Wyoming State Forestry Division gathered together to improve interagency coordination and emergency preparedness, communication and skills. The exercise gave interagency fire personnel the chance to “train the way they fight.”

Firefighter drills included: laying firefighting hoses for defending areas from approaching wildfire; digging lines to confine a wildfire to a particular area; practicing techniques and tactics for insuring a fire is extinguished; and responding to staged motor vehicle accidents and medical emergencies.

“The drills provide an opportunity for firefighters from all around the area to work together in a simulated incident,” said Incident Commander Bryan Karchut. “I think the whole day was a valuable training experience from the ground firefighter on up to the agency administrator.”

Some of the crews, along with Pat Durlan, national Firewise coordinator from Boise, Idaho, conducted home assessments along the forest boundary to see how defensible structures would be in the event of an approaching wildfire. Homeowners had been asked in advance to perform their own assessments so they could compare notes with the firefighters. The crews evaluated nine homes for their Firewise program and provided information to the residents.

“It is valuable for a homeowner to see how the firefighters look at a home and the risks associated with it,” said Fire Information Officer Traci Weaver. “The assessments identify steps homeowners can take to ensure the survivability of their home if it were threatened by a wildfire.”

Wyoming Governor David Freudenthal and Wyoming State Senator Dan Dockstader made an early morning appearance at All Fire Day to applaud the efforts of the firefighters. Lincoln County Commissioners Jerry Harman, Tammy Archibald and Kent Connelly also stopped by to lend their support and thanks to the participants.

“We are very grateful to the town of Star Valley Ranch,” said Karchut. “The town leaders and many residents gave up their Saturday and let us invade their neighborhood. They were incredibly good sports about the whole thing. Now, should Star Valley Ranch be threatened by a wildfire, we’ve all worked together and are familiar with the town—and they are with us.”

For more information on All Fire Day, contact Angie Crook at 307.886.5336 or 307.413.2146.

June 8, 200909-38Due to recent inclement weather, road construction work on the Signal Mountain Summit Road will be delayed by one week, allowing for unrestricted travel on this scenic drive through June 14. Starting Sunday evening, June 14, the Signal Mountain Summit Road will be closed to weekday travel while the road receives an asphalt overlay. This project requires a closure for weekday traffic only—weekend traffic will be allowed. The weekday travel restrictions will be in place from June 14 through the remainder of the month.

Reconstruction of the North Park Road in Grand Teton, between Lizard Creek campground and Flagg Ranch Resort is progressing. Work is being done to widen and repave the park road and complete the reconstruction of the Snake River Bridge. Motorists are advised to expect daytime travel delays of up to 30 minutes from now through the end of November.

Important note: Work on the North Park Road will cease on weekends during July and August—and during the Fourth of July and Labor Day holiday weekends—to allow for unfettered traffic flow during peak travel times.

Other road construction projects are planned for upcoming months, and each will involve 15-minute delays in traffic.These projects include: An asphalt overlay on the road from Colter Bay to Leeks Marina during early July; an asphalt overlay on the road to the Teton Science Schools’ Kelly Campus during mid July; a chip seal project one mile north of Moose Junction to Cunningham Cabin along Hwy 89/191 planned for late August to Labor Day weekend; and a chip seal project from the park’s south boundary to one mile north of the Moose Junction on Hwy 89/191 scheduled for after Labor Day through mid September. As always, roadwork schedules may change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances.

Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead, and schedule extra time for their travel through Grand Teton National Park during the next several months. As road improvement work is underway, every effort will be made to minimize inconvenience to drivers using park roads; however, traffic will be held up for short periods of time. These road construction projects are necessary to improve safety, as well as provide routine maintenance, for the many vehicles that use park roads each year.

For current road construction information, travelers are advised to call the park’s information hotline at 307.739.3614. The park’s newspaper, Teewinot, includes a road construction map for further reference and can be found online at www.nps.gov/grte, or picked up at any entrance station or visitor center.

June 5, 200909-37As part of a nation-wide initiative to promote healthy family recreation in national parks, Grand Teton National Park reminds visitors and neighbors that numerous outdoor activities are available during the 2009 summer travel season. To support greater participation in recreational activities, encourage exercise, and develop healthy habits through outdoor recreation, June 6 has been declared as National Trails Day by a consortium of federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and the recreation industry. In addition, June 13 has been named National Get Outdoors Day, and July has been designated as National Park and Recreation Month.

To mark National Trails Day, visitors may choose to experience the spectacular Teton landscape on foot, bicycle or rollerblades by traveling the park’s new multi-use pathway from Dornan’s to the South Jenny Lake area. This 8-mile-long paved pathway offers the chance to breath fresh air, get physical exercise, and soak in the beauty of the park’s dramatic scenery and wildlife. Because the pathway traverses a wildlife-rich corridor, special regulations apply. Visitors should stop and read the posted informational signs before proceeding along this route, and observe safety precautions such as: wear helmets and sunscreen; ride single file and maintain bicycle speeds that are reasonable to the numbers of other pathway users; be bear aware; and keep a safe distance from all wildlife. Pets are not allowed on the multi-use pathway and this route is closed from sunset to sunrise to protect park animals.

In addition to the new paved pathway, Grand Teton National Park boasts over 250 miles of hiking trails that are scattered throughout the Teton canyons and peaks, as well as across the valley floor. The extensive network of hiking trails offers a variety of opportunities to experience the geology and natural resources of the park. Many park trails are gradually becoming snow-free, and they offer access to the park’s ruggedly beautiful backcountry. Visitors are advised to stop at a park visitor center or ranger station to get information about park trails, their current conditions, and safety precautions to consider.

Numerous ranger-led activities are now underway in Grand Teton; a list is available in the park’s newspaper, Teewinot, which is available at visitor centers and entrance stations or online at http://www.nps.gov/grte. For National Trails Day, visitors may join the ranger-led Taggart Lake Hike to explore a moderately difficult trail and learn about fire ecology, early season wildflowers, and native wildlife; this ranger-led activity begins at 9 a.m. from the Taggart Lake parking area, three miles north of the Moose Entrance Station. Visitors may also elect to take a ranger-led walk along the Snake River to the Murie Ranch and discover how the modern-day conservation movement was launched by Olaus, Mardy, Adolph and Louise Murie from their home in Grand Teton National Park. This activity begins at 10 a.m. from the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose.

There are limitless activities available in Grand Teton National Park—with rangers, as well as with authorized park concessioners who operate scenic float trips on the Snake River, cruises on Jackson Lake, horseback rides, guided fishing trips, and more.

Grand Teton National Park joins other national parks across the country in welcoming visitors and neighbors to the great American outdoors this summer. National parks provide some of the best and most cost effective vacation opportunities—special places through which lasting family memories are made.

June 2, 200909-36Motorists may experience a minor travel delay along Highway 26/89/191 from Moran Junction to the Elk Ranch flats (one mile south of the junction) on Saturday morning, June 6, between the hours of 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. The temporary delay will allow for the safe movement of cattle from the Pinto Ranch of Buffalo Valley to the Elk Ranch pastures, which lie south of Moran Junction and the Buffalo Fork River. Park rangers will provide traffic control during the cattle drive.

Pinto Ranch wranglers will drive a herd of about 250 cattle westward from the ranch using a right of way along Highway 26/287. When the cattle drive reaches Moran Junction, the animals will need to use the roadway to cross the Buffalo Fork bridge. At this point, motorists will likely experience a delay of 30–40 minutes while cattle clear both the bridge itself and a swampy area just south of the bridge.

To avoid the temporary road delay during the cattle drive, local residents and park visitors may choose to travel an alternate route through Grand Teton National Park using the Teton Park Road between Jackson Lake Junction and Moose Junction. Every effort will be made to reduce the time required for this travel delay and minimize any inconvenience to travelers who may be using Highway 26/89/191 to access Moran Junction during the Saturday morning cattle drive.

Grand Teton National Park officials requested that the Pinto Ranch shift their cattle from their historic, free-range Pacific Creek grazing allotment north of Moran to the fenced Elk Ranch pastures in order to minimize potential conflicts with predators living in the Pacific Creek drainage.

In accordance with the 1950 Grand Teton National Park enabling legislation, certain historic grazing privileges were retained. Since that time, the fenced and irrigated Elk Ranch pastures have been used for cattle grazing.

June 1, 200909-35Dr. Robert B. Smith, research professor and professor emeritus of geology and geophysics at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, recently became the recipient of a 2008 National Park Service (NPS) award for natural resource research from Intermountain Region Director Mike Snyder. Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott will present Dr. Smith with his award certificate and an eagle sculpture plaque at an informal NPS employee gathering on Thursday, June 4, at Moose, Wyoming.

The NPS regional director’s award for research in the field of natural resources is an annual recognition created to acknowledge excellence in developing scientific programs, and in publishing research that furthers the cause of science or natural resource management in national parks. The 2008 award was given to Dr. Smith in recognition for his outstanding contributions in the field of geology, specifically in association with Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. Smith’s lengthy and distinguished career in studying and interpreting earthquakes, fault zones, and volcanoes—and their impacts on the geologic evolution of northwestern Wyoming—has generated a greater appreciation for, and increased knowledge of, the dynamic forces at work in the physical landscape of the world-renowned Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Of special note, Smith was the only non-federal employee to receive a 2008 Intermountain Region Director’s Natural Resource Research Award.

Smith has generously donated his time and expertise to assist resource specialists and national park managers while providing advice on geologic issues within the Intermountain Region. He has devoted most of his 52-year career to studying and interpreting significant geologic events in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Smith holds a Ph.D. from the University of Utah and has served as a visiting professor at Columbia University, Cambridge University and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland. His popular book with Lee Siegel, Windows Into the Earth: The Geologic Story of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks (2000, Oxford University Press) explains the geology of the parks, and he regularly provides ‘real-time’ feedback to personnel in both parks about seismic events throughout the region to encourage effective response planning to natural geologic hazards. In 2008, he retired from teaching at the University of Utah, where he was a key founder of the university’s seismic network—a system that operates more than 200 regional and urban seismic stations serving Utah, eastern Idaho, and western Wyoming (including Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks). Smith was a founder of, and remains a coordinating scientist for, the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory—a facility that monitors volcanic and seismic activity in the greater Yellowstone area. He has also been integrally involved in planning and implementing the National Science Foundation-led EarthScope initiative, which uses high-precision instrumentation to explore the structure and evolution of the North American continent and the processes responsible for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

In acknowledging Smith’s achievements, Superintendent Gibson Scott said, “Dr. Smith demonstrates outstanding leadership in his field and supplies invaluable scientific information to help our staff and visitors understand the physical forces that influence the landscapes in the GYE and beyond. We appreciate his unfailing dedication and commitment to America’s national parks, and are especially grateful for the wealth of knowledge that he provides in support of the safety of visitors and residents throughout the Intermountain Region.”